Saturday, January 5, 2008

Warner Brothers: We're Blu, and So Can You!

Sorry, Stephen Colbert for sort of ripping of your book name in this thread title.
I had kind of decided to avoid rantings about the High Def format war, since I know it may not be of supreme interest to some of you, like it is for me.
I feel compelled today though, to make an exception. Warner Brothers, the last major Neutral content provider for Blu-Ray and HD DVD has announced their exclusive support for Blu-Ray. WB holds approximately 20% of all films under their brand, and this effectively gives Blu-Ray exclusive access to 70% of all films. Reports are buzzing around the internet calling this the final death-blow for HD DVD, and I truly believe it is, barring some sinister scheme from Microsoft, though I think it would be too little, too late. Warner, not being douche hats like Paramount will be honoring their previously announced titles and winding down support for HD DVD as of May 31st, though until exclusive support kicks in June 1st, they will be releasing those HD DVD titles after the day-and-date release of the DVD and Blu-Ray versions of those films.
This news must've caught Toshiba and the HD DVD Promotions Group off guard, as they have canceled their much anticipated 2 hour HD DVD extravaganza this coming Sunday which was the prelude to CES 2008 which begins Monday. Ouch!
The last 2 hold-outs in ending the format war are Universal Pictures, who has been HD DVD exclusive since the start, and Paramount, which went HD DVD exclusive due to 'financial incentives upwards of $150 million' last summer. Many are predicting that Universal may follow shortly behind Universal in joining Blu-Ray, at least in dual-format support if nothing else.
Unless Payamount Pictures has some built in escape clause, they will be standing all alone holding a bag of shit until 2009.
I'm personally excited that it seems like this whole damn format thing has reached a turning point and may be ending rather swiftly.
Long live Blu!

1 comment:

Zan said...

Good to hear there might be a fast end to the madness. :) Oh, and I really like the panda.